Coupling seal construction



Apr-i117, 1945. A. TOWNH ILI 2,373,925

COUPLING SEAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug.- 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1945; A TQWNHILL 2,373,925

COUPLING SEAL CON S TRUCTION Filed Aug. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )Ze n1 we 7514/4 /11; L

Patented Apr; 1 7, 1945 QOUPIJNG SEAL CONSTRUCTION Arthur Townhill, Cleveland; Ohio, assignor to ghompson Products, Inc., a corporation of Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,652

4 Claims. (01. 284-4) This invention relates to a seal construction particularly adapted for use with couplings, valves, and the like and more particularly to the construction of a rubber sealing ring so formed as to take into consideration not only the sealing functi'on'of the ring but also to give it greater wear-resisting qualities withoutinterfering with the performance of the scaling function.-

f An object of this invention is to provide a seal construction especially adapted for use in an improved coupling of the type having a split, rotatable plug detachably connecting a pair of coupling boxes for controlling fluid flow therebetween and wherein the heretofore necessary sep- Q arate end caps for the coupling boxes are elimi- Another object of this invention is to provide an improved but simple seal which lends itself to economical manufacture on' a large production,

A further object of this invention is to provide a seal construction which may be readily assembled in a coupling or the like and in which the parts thereof have been reduced to a minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a lightweight disconnect coupling especially adapted for use in airplane fuel oil and hydraulic conduits, an improved seal construction which will be positive in action and which will be resistant to wear.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sealing device which on one surface is readily displaceable for sealing engagement'and on another surface is made resistant to wear and rubber ring having on its inner periphery a liner ring for preventing radially inward displacement of the rubber as it is displaced into sealing position and also having a lateral side provided with a wear-resisting surface and formedlcylindrically concave for cooperationwith a rotary member, such as a valve plug'.'

In accordance with still other features of the invention, there is provided a rubber sealing ring made up of a plurality of sections of rubber having different degrees of resiliency, one section being readily displaceable on the outer periphery of the, ring for sealing cooperation with a surface to be sealed and the other section being less resilient but having greater wear-resisting characteristics so as to cooperate sealingly with a movable part to be sealed such, for example, as a'valve plug;

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a coupling in which a I seal construction embodying the present invention is used; a

Figure 2 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the structure shown in Figure 1 and showing the coupling boxes detached and separated;

.Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line III-IlI of Figure 2 looking upwardly;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on a iine IVIV of Figure 3 looking upwardly;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the three elements of the seal construction separated from each other; and

Figure 6,is a cross-sectional view through a,

.modified form of rubber sealing ring embodying part leading to the chamber and asplit plug valve mounted in'the chamber, improved sealing means in each of the passageways and each having a cylindric'ally-concave sealing-side surface in seal-' ing contact with and conforming t a curved oute surface of the split plug valve.

Still another feature of the invention relates to the provision of novelly arranged'spring means the features of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character Ilia designates generally a coupling in which my novel seal conalthough it is to be understood that my seal construction may be used in other applications without deviating from the scope and spirit of this invention. 7

'-This novel coupling includes cooperable metalv lic coupling boxes I i and I! which may be fabricated inany suitable manner and which define a valve chamber in which is disposed a split rotatable, valve or plug designated generally by the reference character l3 and which includes two half-sections l3a and lib (Figures 3 and 4).

The box II has a flat end face I4 which. as shown in Figure 3, may be provided with a plurality ,'of internally threaded holes Ila (only one being shown) for receivingan attachment member (not shown) on the end ofany suitable conduit in which the couplingis mounted.

Formed integral with this same end of the coupling are a pair of oppositely-extending flanges I5 and I6 and which are disposed slightly inwardly from the end face I4. It should be noted that these flanges may, if it is so desired, be suitably apertured for.the reception of bolts (not shown) for attaching the coupling box to a supporting wall such, for example, as the fire wall of an airplane engine nacelle (not shown).

IAS best shown in Figure 3, the coupling box II has a flat bottom wall I! projecting from the flange I8. This bottom wall I I has projecting therefrom segmental cylindrical side walls I3 and I3 (Figure 4). A cylindrical fluid passageway (Figure 4) extends inwardly from the flat end face ll of the coupling box into an intersecting vertical cylindrical chamber 2| defined by the bottom wall I! and the curved side walls I3 and I9. Hence it will be appreciated that this intersecting cylindrical chamber has an open top and an open end.

Referring now to Figure 3, it should be noted that the coupling box II has a relatively short top wall 22 extending forwardly from the flange II. The forward end of this wall 22 has an upstanding semi-circular flange 23 spaced from the flange I5 so as to provide therebetween a semi-circular space.

The coupling box I2 has a flat end face 23 (Figure 3) similar to the end face I4 of the box II and having a plurality of internally threaded holes 26a (only one of which' is shown) extending inwardly therefrom for attachment of the box to a fitting on the end of a conduit. The box I2 also has a flat bottom wall '21 similar to the wall I! of the box' II. The inner ends of these flat bottom walls I1 and 21 are adapted to be placed in abutting relation, as is clearly evident from Figure 3. The box I2 also has semi-circular walls 23 and 23 similar to the walls I8 and I3 of the box I I. The inner ends ofthe respective side walls I8 and 28 and I9 and 23 (Figure 14) are adaptedto be placed in abutting relation, as is evident from Figure 4..

The box I2 also has a horizontal cylindrical fluid passageway 30 extending inwardly from the flat end face 26 thereof and communicating at its inner end with an intersecting vertical chain-- ber 3I defined by the flat bottom wall 21 and the cylindrical side walls 28 and 23. This chamber 3|, like the chamber 2!, has an open end and an open top. cooperate to define a chamber for receiving s, rotary valve plug I3 (to be hereinafter described) when the two boxesare joined together.

The box I2, like the'box II, hasa short fiat top wall portion 32 (Figure 3) forming a top for the inner end of the passageway 30 and having an outturned semi-circular vertical flange or lug 33 therearound.

The passageways 20 and 33 of the coupling. boxes II and I2 are each counterbored at their inner ends as at 31 (Figure 4) and have shoulders 31a (Figure 3) at the ends ofthe counterbores. It is in these counterbored portions of the passageways that my novel seal constructions, to be hereinafter described, aremounted.

' The coupling boxes II and I2, when placed together in abutting relation, define an open-topped In fact, the two chambers 2| and 3| cylindrical chamber receiving the cylindrical twopart plug valve I3, as well as define the lateral projecting. cylindrical chambers 23 and 30 communicating with the central plug-receiving chamber at their inner ends and adapted to communicate at their outer ends with conduit fittings (not shown) attached to the end faces II and 26 of the boxes. h

The plug valve has two cooperating cylindricallike parts I3a--I3b having semi-cylindrical side walls 30 and H, respectively, for bearing engagement with the side walls of the coupling boxes.

These side walls 40 and project into grooves GI and 3 la formed in the two boxes I I and I2. Central upstanding semi-annular flanges 62 and- 63 in the respective coupling boxes (Figure 3) define the inner ends of the grooves Iii-6m.

Semi-circular tongues 64 and 65 extend inwardly from the cylindrical inner side walls of the coupling boxes near the bottoms I! and 2'8 thereof to seat in semi-annular grooves 63 and 31 formed in the side walls of the valve parts lab and I311. The valve parts are rotatable in their respective coupling boxes, and once they are seated in these boxes they cannot be lifted out since the tongues 34 and 65 will prevent the valve parts from being lifted away from the bottoms of the coupling boxes.

The coupling box I2 is equipped with an upstanding lug 30 (Figures 1 and 2) for defining an abutment against which ears 44b and 4522 on the two valve parts I31) and I3a, respectively, will strike to limit movement of the valve parts to a quarter turn rotation and thereby insure complete coupling and uncoupling of the coupling boxes. It will also be noted that the flange I5 on the coupling box II lies in the path of movement of the ears b and 43b (Figures 1 and 2) so as to prevent complete seating of the valve part I3a in the coupling box II and so as to prevent removal in one direction of. the valve part III) from the coupling box II when the coupling is in disconnect position.

Likewise the ear bwill strike against the lug 30 to preventremoval of the valve part I3a from the box I2 in one direction.

The valve parts I31: and I3b have flat top'walls 44 and 45, respectively (Figure 2), projecting beyond the side walls 40 and ll and have downtumed semi-circular flanges a and a, respectively, for engaging the flanges 33 and 23 of the coupling boxes. which carry the previously referred to lugs or ears b and 43b.

The walls 44 and 45 of the valve parts I3a and I3b have upwardly-extending lugs 8| and 80, respectively, having flat sides 3Ia and 80a for engageinent by a suitable turning tool to rotate the valve parts in the coupling boxes. Also as best shown in Figure 3, the valve parts I30 and I3b have flat inner end faces 43 and 43 extending around the periphery thereof for abutting relation when the coupling boxes are pieced together for the coupling operation. The valve part I3b has a cylindrical wall III defining a cylindrical chamber II therethrough. The valve part l3a is cylindrically recessed as at 52 to receive the wall 50 of the part I311.

The plug p rt I 3a is operatively mounted in the coupling box I2 by dropping the same between the side walls 23 and 23 (Figure 4) thereof into the groove Ila. (Figure 3) in the bottom wall. The

plug Ilb is inserted in the coupling box II in a similar manner. The valve parts arerotated in It is these top walls 44 and 45 properly seated inthese boxes they'cannot be lifted out since the tongues 64 and 66 will prevent the valve parts from being lifted away from the bottoms of the coupling boxes.

' The present invention is particularly concerned with the sealing means for a coupling of the above described specific characteristics; In Figures 3 and 4 the sealing means is shown in duplicate,

there being one for each passageway 20-30. In

- F gure 5 I have illustrated the sealing means with the components thereof separated for purposes of facilitating a detailed description and illustration of the same. This sealing means comprises a re silient rin 68 preferably composed of ,a plastic material such as an oil- .and solvent-resisting rub-.

ber. A metallic liner or retaining sleeve 69 is provided for each rubber ring. This'lineralso'has a'radial outwardly-extending flange 69aso'that, when the-liner is mounted in the rubber ring 68, displacement of the rubber axially outwardly in adirection toward the outer extremity of the cooperating fluid passageway is prevented. In other words, t e displacement of the rubber is confined by the liner 69 to the areas to be sealed. Both the liner 69 and the rubber ring 68 are cylin'dri-.

cally recessed'on one side to accommodate the cylindrical outer surface of the plug valve part to be fitted therein and sealed thereby. The edge of the liner 69 at its concave side is so cut that it will not scrape against the cylindrical surface of the valve part, as is clear from Figures 3 and 4. I

the valve parts are broughtinto. face-to-face engagement with each other, and then a suitable wrench is applied to the cooperating upstanding lugs 80 and 8| for the purpose of rotating the two valve parts I3a and I3!) together as a unit. This results in the valve part I 3a being moved partially into the box II, and similarly the valve part I3b is moved into'the box I2. This interlocks the two boxes together and also brings the passageway 50 of the valve plug into alignment-with the fluid passageways and 30. Further, this rotary movement of the valve plug is limited by the lug 45b striking the upstanding lug 60 on the box I2.

or ports 20 and, by the seal construction of this invention.

Toremove the valve plug parts I3a and l3b from the boxes I2 and II, respectively, the plug is turned until the valve plug parts are in "the area of engagement with the cylindrical surface of the valve plug. The two sections 68a and 68b may be suitably secured together as by means of vulcanizing, adhesive, etc. I

The third element of the seal comprises a corrugated spring-type ring washer I0 which is adapted to be disposed between the shoulder 31a of the counterbore' of the associated fluid passageway 20-30 and the flange 69a of the liner to urge the assembly toward the valve parts.

The liner serves to prevent inward collapsing of the rubber ring or sleeve 68 and whereby the sleeve will effectively form a seal against the adjacent valve partas well as against the counterbore wall since it will be somewhat expanded radially as it is squeezed between the valve parts andthe outturned flange'of the liner 69. In Figure 6 there is illustrated a slightly modifled form of rubber sleeve 68' which is provided with a cylindrically concave wear-resisting surface formed by a flber ring 680 suitably fastened to the main body of the rubber sleeve.

From the foregoing it is clear that there is provided a rubber seal which has a readily-displaceable, resilient, peripheral portion for sealing cooperation with the counterbore wall of the fluid passageway, and has a less-resilient, lateral side surface to resist'wear incident to the moving of positions shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, at which time the two boxes may be separated. Thereafter, in order to remove-the valve plug part I3b from the box II itis rotated until the overhanging flange a is clear of the semi-circular flange 23. tongue 64 from the semi-annular groove 36. The removal action is the same in the case of plug valve part I3a since rotation of this part will disengage the overhanging flange a from the semi-circular flange 33 and will also bring the semi-annular groove 61 out of register with the plugs have been removed from the two boxes,

access may be had to the seal'construction for the purpose'of removing the same if it should be necessary toreplace the rubber sleeve 68.

a part thereover while still having a. sealing engaaement with that part.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated the boxes. I I and I2 and the valve plug I3 in locked cooperation.

three figures. To assemble the parts as shown rotation of the valve I3'not only placesthe passageways 20 and 30 of the boxes in connected relation but also places the passageways of these boxes in fullfluid communication. Reverse quarter turn rotation of the plug valve I 3 disconnects the coupling boxes and seals the passageways of these boxes so that leakage out of the conduit ends to which the boxes may be attached is prevented. The'seals embodying this invention will also serve as brakes resisting unauthorized rotation of the plug valve so that, when the coupling boxes are disconnected, the valve parts retained therein will not move from sealing positio'rls unlessintentionally moved to drain positions.

Each coupling box can be cast or forged in one piece. 1 Likewise, each valve part can be cast or forged in one piece so that the total assembly, outside of the seals, is only composed of four-main pieces. The arrangement of the grooves and flanges on the respective parts eliminates the necessity for separate end caps or closure plates on the coupling boxes which heretofore had to and are in fact illustrated as separated in these be assembled on the boxes after the plug parts were inserted.

It will, of course, beunderstood that various of this invention and it is, therefore,' not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherin these three figures, mating faces l8 and 03 of d This rotation also disengages the pended claims.

4- v wise than necessitated by the scope of the ap- I claim as ioilowsz 1. In a quick disconnect coupling which comprises a pair of coupling'boxes together deiining a cylindrical" surface of said split plug valve.

2. In a quick disconnect'coupling which comprises a pair of coupling boxes together defining an open-topped closed-bottom valve chamber,

each part having a fluid passageway leading to said chamber and a split plug valve mounted in said chamber, sealing means in a passageway and having a dished sealing side surface in sealing contact with and conforming to a curved outer 'surface of said split plug valve, and spring means in said passageway'ior urging said sealing means into tight sealing engagement with said valve plug.

3. In a quick disconnect coupling which comprises a pair of coupling boxes together defining an open-topped closed-bottom valve chamber, each part having a fluid passageway leading to said chamber and a, split plug valve mounted in said chamber, sealing means in a passageway having a curved recessed sealing side surface in sealing contact with and conforming to a curved. outer surface of said split plug valve, said sealing means comprising a rubber ring having on its inner periphery a retaining ring for preventing radially inward displacement of the rubber as it is displaced into its sealing position. 4. In a quick disconnect coupling whichcomprises a pair of coupling boxes together defining an open-topped closed-bottom valve chamber each part having a fluid passageway leading to said chamber and a split plug valve mounted in said chamber, sealingmeans in a passageway having a dished sealing side surface in sealing contact with and/conforming to a curved outer surface of said split plug valve, said sealing means comprising a rubber ring with a cylindrical concave lateral wear-resisting side surface insealing engagement with said plug and a more readily displaceable resilient outer periphery in sealing engagement with the wall of said passageway.

ARTHUR-TOWNI'IILL. 

